In Norton Massachusetts there are many sports teams, some good and some bad but in the end they're all a part of Norton.The teams vary all the way from swimming to lacrosse. I interviewed the Norton high school er Joesph Weber. Overall Norton High School is a great sports team! Leaving many records for different sports. Recently the Norton Track team has qualified and won states, which is an outstanding accomplishment for Norton. With all the sports already tied in with Norton they started a new team for the high school, the lacrosse team, and the school was anxious waiting for the season to start. I have talked to some of the Norton lacrosse team members asking them on how they felt before the season about the sport. Most of the players responded with a smile saying, "I couldn't wait, it's been something I was really looking forward to and happy that it was finally here."
The Norton Lancers took on the Medway Mustangs on April 15th, 2015 at Norton High school. The game was a tough, hard fought game but not tough enough with the Norton Lancers falling to an astounding 20-1! The home team was lead by Johnmichale Lee and Luke Kane, the two captains of the team but someone who really stood out was Joe Weber a defense men and long pole middie. In the first period the Norton Lancers start the game off strong with a great defensive setting, staying on their man and making sure they can't get to their goalie. Nick Joyce was also playing great in net, saving shots but yet letting up some goals. When it came to the offense there wasn't much to it, but when they had the chance they would take it.Yet throughout the game Joey was playing great, with a great defense with a solid physical attitude. It then came to the second Lancers down 7-0, Lancers hoping to get back where they wanted to be with a more offensive setting. Midway through the second period Norton pulled it together and scored their first goal, but still is down 11-1. As the second period came to a close it ended 15-1, Lancers getting more physical trying to hang in there.
The second half began with the Medway Mustangs leading the Norton Lancers with a 15-1 lead, leaving the Lancers with the need of a miracle. As the period was being played you could see the frustration and disappointment on the teams faces, but that didn't keep the kids from playing and giving up. Joe Weber was also feeling disappointment, as a player that I know well he does not like the feeling of a loss. During this period he tried to keep the spirit going and make sure that he was trying his best to make sure his team didn't fall apart. In the offensive zone the Norton Lancers just could not complete their goals, they would try but it just wasn't their for them in this game. As the 3rd period came to a close the Mustangs scored 19 against Norton's 1. Starting a new period the Lancers replace their goalie Nick Joyce, with Clint Gallagher. As the game came to a close the Norton Lancers stayed strong and only let up 1 goal, increasing their defense but yet leading with their offense getting as many shots off as they could. In the end it just wasn't good enough as the Norton Lancers fell to the Medway Mustangs 20-1.
Joesph Weber number 13 plays for the Norton Lacrosse high school team. His role on the team is to play as long pole midde or defense. All throughout the season, Joe provided the team with a positive attitude and great game play. Joe also provided the team with many assists, either stealing the ball or receiving passes and once he had that ball it was hard for him to let go! Joe has been playing lacrosse ever since he was a kid, loving the sport from now until then and its going to continue until the day he dies. All throughout the season Joey showed how much of a well organized, team player/leader. From my experience with Joey I knew that he was going to be a huge support on the team and a great help. Once Norton found out that they were going to be creating a team for the high school, Joe already knew that he was going to make varsity and he wasn't worried about it at all. Overall I think that Joe is going to, no doubt in my mind become a captain as soon as he can showing great leadership, attitude, respect, and skill level.Lucky enough I was able to get to talk to Joe after the game ended. I asked him a series of questions about Lacrosse overall. I started off by asking him why he has such a passion for lacrosse and he responded with, "Its just been my favorite sport ever since I started playing it when I was little, and ever since then I have just always wanted to get better and improve." I then proceeded to ask him, what makes you want to play the sport so bad. He responded with "Kinda like I just said you know, its always just been so much fun to me I never really wanted to stop playing because I never got bored of it." I then proceeded to ask him more questions, but one question that really stood out to me was about how he thinks the team will do in the future. He told me, "I think moving forward we'll
Ultimately the team had a rough season ending 4-14. It does seem pretty rough for the Lancers but you still have to have the thought in your mind that they played great, for a new team with some kids having this as their first year! As a team together they treat each other as a family, and with respect. Even at the end of the season they weren't mad but they were satisfied with the results for a new team going against some of the best teams. I asked Joe if their was room for improvement and he replied with, "There's always room for improvement." If the team keeps playing the way they are now, their is going to be improvement because they are playing how they need to play but they need to practice as much as they can. It will take time but that's what happens with any sport, you have to put in the time and effort to get better. Hopefully by the end of Joey's time in Norton High School he's going to lead the team to a winning record.
As the season came to a start everyone was wondering who the coach was going to be and that was Mark Notz. Mark has a background with lacrosse he used to coach at Mansfeild, but Norton caught his eye and tried our team out. The Norton Lacrosse team's staff was great this year also including Joe Weber's dad Kevin Weber. Throughout the season the coaches had a big influences on the team leaving them with a positive attitude. The team started off with some kids just starting off never playing a game of lacrosse in their life, to now lacrosse is one of their favorite sports. This also connected with the team and coaches together, overall the team didn't know how to play with each other or what to do but the coaches brought them together and made then a team that can put up a good fight. If the team didn't having a coaching staff that didn't know what they were doing the team might have not even won a game!




